2093 2004-05-06-07 THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS No. 190 TUESDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2007 1 The House met, at 10.38 a.m., according to the terms of the resolution of 15 August 2007. The Speaker (the Honourable David Hawker) took the Chair, and read Prayers. 2 ADDRESS BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA The Speaker extended a welcome to the President of the Senate and Senators as guests. The Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, was announced. The Speaker welcomed Prime Minister Harper. The Speaker also welcomed Mrs Laureen Harper who was present in the gallery. Mr Howard (Prime Minister) welcomed Prime Minister Harper. Mr Rudd (Leader of the Opposition) supported the remarks of the Prime Minister. The Speaker invited Prime Minister Harper to address the meeting. Prime Minister Harper then addressed the meeting. The Speaker, on behalf of the House, expressed thanks to Prime Minister Harper. Prime Minister Harper departing the Chamber— The sitting was suspended from 11.10 a.m. to 2.40 p.m. 3 QUESTIONS Questions without notice were asked. 4 AUDITOR-GENERAL’S REPORT The Speaker presented the following document: Auditor-General—Audit report No. 6 of 2007–2008—Performance audit—Australia’s preparedness for a human influenza pandemic: Department of Health and Ageing; Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Ordered to be made a Parliamentary Paper. 5 DOCUMENTS The following documents were presented: Aboriginal Land Commissioner—Report and recommendations to the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and to the Administrator of the Northern Territory— No. 69—Alcoota Land Claim No. 146. ASC Pty Ltd—Statement of corporate intent for 2007 to 2010. Australian Communications and Media Authority—Performance report—National Relay Service— 2005-06. Department of Immigration and Citizenship—Access and equity report for 2006. 2094 No. 190—11 September 2007 Gene Technology Regulator—Quarterly report for the period 1 April to 30 June 2007. Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission—Report No. 37—Report of an inquiry into Dr Julie Copeman’s complaint that Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service terminated her employment on the basis of her trade union activity (with corrections). Members of Parliament (Staff) Act—Report on consultants engaged under section 4 for 2006-07. Northern Territory Fisheries Joint Authority—Report for 2005-06. Treaties— Attachments to explanatory statements— No. 1 of 2007—Amendment, adopted at Christchurch in November 2006, to Annex 1 of the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) of 19 June 2001. No. 3 of 2007—Amendment, adopted at Paris on 7 February 2007, to Annex 1 of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) International Convention Against Doping in Sport of 19 October 2005. No. 4 of 2007—Amendment to Annex 2-B (United States Tariff Schedule) of the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) of 18 May 2004. Bilateral—Text, together with national interest analysis and annexures—Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga relating to air services, done at Neiafu, Tonga on 23 August 2003. Multilateral—Text, together with national interest analysis and annexures— Constitutional amendments to the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization and other WIPO administered treaties adopted by the WIPO General Assemblies in September 1999 and October 2003. Withdrawal of Australia’s exemption for the use of mirex under Article 4 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, done at Stockholm on 22 May 2001. Witness Protection Act 1994—Report on the operation of the National Witness Protection Program for 2006-07. 6 DOCUMENTS—MOTION TO TAKE NOTE OF DOCUMENTS Mr McGauran (Deputy Leader of the House) moved—That the House take note of the following documents: Aboriginal Land Commissioner—Report and recommendations to the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and to the Administrator of the Northern Territory— No. 69—Alcoota Land Claim No. 146. Gene Technology Regulator—Quarterly report for the period 1 April to 30 June 2007. Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission—Report No. 37—Report of an inquiry into Dr Julie Copeman’s complaint that Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service terminated her employment on the basis of her trade union activity (with corrections). Members of Parliament (Staff) Act—Report on consultants engaged under section 4 for 2006-07. Debate adjourned (Mr Albanese), and the resumption of each debate made an order of the day for the next sitting. 7 DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE—CLIMATE CHANGE The House was informed that Mr Garrett had proposed that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely, “The Government’s failure, over eleven years, to take genuine action to address climate change”. The proposed discussion having received the necessary support— Mr Garrett addressed the House. Discussion ensued. Discussion concluded. 8 MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE Messages from the Senate, 17 August 2007, were reported: No. 190—11 September 2007 2095 (a) returning the following bills without amendment: No. 584—Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Payment Reform) 2007; No. 585—Northern Territory National Emergency Response 2007; No. 586—Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory National Emergency Response and Other Measures) 2007; No. 587—Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) (No. 1) 2007-2008; No. 588—Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) (No. 2) 2007-2008; No. 589—Water 2007; No. 590—Water (Consequential Amendments) 2007; and No. 591—APEC Public Holiday 2007; and (b) informing the House that Senator Fifield had been appointed a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade—Message No. 592; and (c) informing the House that Senator Sandy Macdonald had been appointed a member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security—Message No. 593. 9 MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE—AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP AMENDMENT (CITIZENSHIP TESTING) BILL 2007 Message No. 594, 10 September 2007, from the Senate was reported returning the Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Testing) Bill 2007 with amendments. Ordered—That the amendments be considered at the next sitting. 10 MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL—ASSENT TO BILLS Messages from His Excellency the Governor-General were announced informing the House that His Excellency, in the name of Her Majesty, had assented to the following bills: 17 August 2007—Message No. 333— Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) (No. 1) 2007-2008. Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) (No. 2) 2007-2008. Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory National Emergency Response and Other Measures) 2007. Northern Territory National Emergency Response 2007. Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Payment Reform) 2007. 20 August 2007—Message— No. 334—Aviation Legislation Amendment (2007 Measures No. 1) 2007. No. 335— Corporations Amendment (Insolvency) 2007. Customs Tariff Amendment (No. 1) 2007. Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Amendment (Cosmetics) 2007. National Health Amendment (National HPV Vaccination Program Register) 2007. 3 September 2007—Message— No. 336— Water 2007. Water (Consequential Amendments) 2007. APEC Public Holiday 2007. No. 337—International Tax Agreements Amendment (No. 1) 2007. 11 THERAPEUTIC GOODS AMENDMENT BILL 2007—REPORT FROM MAIN COMMITTEE The Deputy Speaker reported that the bill had been fully considered by the Main Committee and agreed to without amendment, and presented a certified copy of the bill. Bill agreed to. 2096 No. 190—11 September 2007 On the motion of Mr Pearce (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer), by leave, the bill was read a third time. 12 INTERNATIONAL TAX AGREEMENTS AMENDMENT BILL (NO. 2) 2007—REPORT FROM MAIN COMMITTEE The Deputy Speaker reported that the bill had been fully considered by the Main Committee and agreed to without amendment, and presented a certified copy of the bill. Bill agreed to. On the motion of Mr Pearce (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer), by leave, the bill was read a third time. 13 BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IMPROVEMENT AMENDMENT (OHS) BILL 2007— REPORT FROM MAIN COMMITTEE The Deputy Speaker reported that the bill had been fully considered by the Main Committee and agreed to without amendment, and presented a certified copy of the bill. Bill agreed to. On the motion of Mr Pearce (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer), by leave, the bill was read a third time. 14 BILLS REFERRED TO MAIN COMMITTEE Mr Bartlett (Chief Government Whip), by leave, moved—That the following bills be referred to the Main Committee for further consideration: Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Legislation Amendment (Child Disability Assistance) 2007; Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Amendment 2007; Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Discretionary Mutual Funds and Direct Offshore Foreign Insurers) 2007; Corporations (National Guarantee Fund Levies) Amendment 2007; Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Regulation and Review) 2007; Superannuation Legislation Amendment